Welcome to InSpirit: From the Vault - a special summer collection featuring powerful, previously unreleased episodes from the past year.In this episode, Fr. Thomas sits down with Fr. Tim Monahan for a deep and honest conversation about discovering God’s will in our vocation. Drawing from his many years of experience walking with individuals discerning their calling, Fr. Tim shares both the beauty and the struggles of the discernment process, especially when faced with indecisiveness.About our guest – Fr. Tim MonahanFr. Tim Monahan is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He serves as Vocations Director for the Archdiocese and has held this position for nearly eight years, accompanying over 100 men as they seek to discover God’s call in their lives.

Welcome to our InSpirit: From the Vault series - a summer collection of powerful, previously unreleased episodes from the past year. In this premiere episode, Fr. Thomas sits down with the deeply insightful Fr. John Horn, S.J., to explore one of the Church’s most transformative gifts: the Sacrament of Reconciliation.With over 40 years of priestly ministry, Fr. Horn shares how this Sacrament doesn’t merely address the symptoms of sin, but heals its roots. Drawing from his rich experience in Ignatian spirituality and priestly formation, he and Fr. Thomas dive into the mercy of Christ encountered in confession — a personal, healing encounter that restores and reclaims the soul.See the Amoris Christi Trifold on Reconciliation:https://www.amorischristi.org/_files/ugd/f5bd33_e2e81d9a9a25425889e326e059d1d8fe.pdfLearn more about Amoris Christi: amorischristi.orgAbout Our Guest – Fr. John Horn, S.J.Fr. John Horn is a Jesuit priest celebrating 40 years of ministry. A former missionary with the Jesuit Refugee Service in the Philippines, he’s taught at Jesuit high schools and served as President-Rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. He co-founded the Institute for Priestly Formation (IPF) and the Seminary Formation Council, forming both seminarians and their formators across the U.S.Fr. Horn has played a leading role in reviving spiritual tools such as Empathetic Repentance, the ARRR Prayer, Lectio Divina, the Examen of Consciousness, and RIM (Relationship, Identity, Mission).Today, he continues his ministry as an Associate Professor and Spiritual Director at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Florida and leads 30-day Ignatian Silent Retreats each summer.Books by Fr. Horn:https://www.amazon.com/si=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AFr.%2BJohn%2BHorn%2BSJ&s=relevancerank&text=Fr.+John+Horn+SJ&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1Spiritual Husbands – En Route Books & Media

https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/spiritualhusbands/Seminary Formation Council:seminaryformation.orgSubscribe and follow the Inspirit Podcast by Amoris Christi, where we explore secular topics through a Christian lens.

In this episode, Fr. Thomas and Anthony are joined by Fr. Jose Lopez, a priest of the Archdiocese of Miami. Fr. Jose spent his childhood up to high school growing up in Communist Cuba. Fr. Jose discusses the challenges of growing up in a materialistic society and the challenges of an utopian society. We discuss the false promise that communism offers and how the Christian vision of society differs in seeking the common good.

In this episode, Fr. Thomas and Anthony are joined by Sunil Nadarajan, Executive Director of Amoris Christi. Drawing from over 20 years of experience accompanying young people, Sunil offers a profound reflection on the reality of shame - how it isolates us, distorts our identity, and keeps us from living in the truth of who we are. Together, we explore the Christian understanding of shame and redemption: how Christ doesn’t ignore our shame, but calls us out of it and into relationship. Sunil shares how true redemption doesn’t just free us from the burden of shame, but restores us to the fullness of our identity as beloved children of God.Whether you’ve struggled with shame personally or accompanied others through it, this episode offers insight, hope, and a path toward healing.To know more about Amoris Christi: https://www.amorischristi.org/Show Notes:Curt Thompson, The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe about Ourselves - https://a.co/d/gyipIGXCurt Thompson, Shining Light on Shame - https://www.cccu.org/magazine/shining-light-shame/Brené Brown, The Power of Vulnerability - https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o?si=93jXqgEY9DbmYX1y

In this episode, Fr. Thomas, Chris, and Anthony explore how Christians are called to view and steward wealth. They discuss the blessings and challenges that come with financial resources, how wealth can shape our spiritual lives, and what it means to be faithful stewards in a material world.

Show Notes:
Thales of Miletus and the Olive Press Monopoly in 600 BC. https://thehistorianshut.com/2020/05/06/thales-of-miletus-and-his-olive-press-monopoly/

In this episode, Fr. Thomas and Sunil Nadarajan (Executive Director of Amoris Christi) are joined by Eric Wind, a world-leading expert in vintage watches and the founder of Wind Vintage. Eric shares his Christian vision of the world, imbued with stories and meaning. He shares how he experiences God's delight every day in his passion for his work.About our Guest:Eric Wind, a man of deep Catholic faith, is a world-leading expert in vintage watches and the founder of Wind Vintage. His record-breaking lectures at the Horological Society of New York and his tenure as Vice President and Senior Specialist at Christie’s, handling iconic timepieces, have made him the go-to person for anyone interested in vintage watches. Eric has been featured and quoted in a number of publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Financial Times, Esquire, GQ, Robb Report, The Chicago Tribune, Fortune, The Hollywood Reporter, Men's Health, HODINKEE, and more.

Fr. Joby Joseph and Fr. Thomas Pulickal, from the St.Thomas Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Chicago share Eucharistic reflections based on the writings of the East Syriac Saint, St. Ephrem and interview Maryn Kunthara about her experiences with liturgy. This initiative was developed in preparation for the first St. Thomas Syro Malabar Eparchy of Chicago Eucharistic Congress, which will be held from May 23rd to 25th in Somerset, New Jersey.To know more about the Syro Malabar Eucharistic Congress, visit: https://www.smeucharisticcongress.us/

In this episode, Fr. Thomas and Anthony are joined by professional comedian and musician Josh Harris to explore how the creative arts can be powerful instruments for sharing the Gospel. 

Josh shares his personal journey of encountering Christ and how he seeks to bring laughter, joy, and hope to others through his work in comedy and music. Together, they reflect on the role of the arts in evangelization, the unique challenges and graces of being a Christian artist, and the call to proclaim Christ in every sphere of life.

To know more about Josh Harris, visit: https://funnyjosh.com/

Follow Josh Harris on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@funnyjoshharris?si=Z20mbnn08W_sY5pO

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnyjoshharris/

Music by Josh - Joshua's Giants: https://youtube.com/@joshuasgiants?si=31UZowt_3t8w7uM4

Joshua's Giants on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ULNzmxY00PU4YfT3ZZp7T?si=a4ebs0O4QpmQCm1MhBljyA

About our guest: Josh Harris is a professional comedian, musician, and radio host renowned for his distinctive blend of wit, authenticity, and profound faith. A finalist in NBC’s nationwide Stand Up for Diversity talent search, Josh has performed nationally televised comedy sets on Bounce TV, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and TV One. His viral sketches have garnered over 10 million views, and in 2020, he signed a headlining contract with Carnival Cruise Lines. He recently performed on the nationally televised talk show Huckabee and now co-hosts a morning show on Atlanta’s Catholic radio station, AM 1160 The Quest.(https://thequestatlanta.com/the-morning-quest/)

Josh's faith-based music project, Joshua’s Giants, also made waves in the Christian music world, with the song “Love Won’t Let Me Go” reaching #36 on the Billboard Christian Radio charts. In 2019, he shared his testimony on EWTN’s Catholics Come Home. Josh attributes all his joy, peace, and success to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In this episode, Anthony is joined by sports enthusiast and athletes Geoffrey Merz and Dylan McKay. They discuss the influence of sports in their own lives, how sports helped shape them, and valuable life lessons they have learned from sports. They also discuss the connection between sports and Christian living.About our guestsDylan McKay is a seminarian studying for the priesthood. He completed his undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology. He played college tennis and is an avid runner, completing marathons, half-marathons, and numerous other races across the country.Geoffrey Merz is the director of student life at the School of Nazareth at Amoris Christi. He plays in a recreational soccer league and plays various other sports. Show Notes:This conversation on Sports is based on the document by the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, "Giving the Best of Yourself: A Document on the Christian Perspective on Sport and the Human Person." One of the contributors and final editors of the document was Manoj Sunny from Jesus Youth International.https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/06/01/180601b.htmlhttps://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/06/01/180601c.html

In this episode, Fr. Thomas and Anthony are joined by Br. Benedict Maria, OSB, a Benedictine monk from Portsmouth Abbey.

Br. Benedict shares from the great tradition of the Benedictine spirituality why remembering our death is worthwhile, how death gives meaning to our lives and why we the fear of death should not cripple us.

To know more about the Benedictine Order and Portsmouth Abbey, visit: https://portsmouthabbeymonastery.org/

About Our Guest: Br. Benedict Maria, OSB (Order of St. Benedict) is a professed monk of Portsmouth Abbey, Rhode Island. Br. Benedict, originally from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, is a professional engineer. He came to the United States after completing his studies to pursue work, following which he found his calling to be a monk of the Order of St. Benedict. He professed his solemn vows in November 2021. He will be ordained a priest on May 2nd, 2025.

To know more about Br. Benedict's vocation story: https://portsmouthabbeymonastery.org/brother-benedict

Show Notes:

Keep death before your eyes, Rule of St.Benedict, Chapter IV - The Instruments of Good Works, n:47. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/benedict/rule.vi.html

1 Corinthians 15 - St.Paul on Death

To read about Br.Benedict Maria's mosaic artwork (Pg 8-9): https://irp.cdn-website.com/e179a719/files/uploaded/72329_SVDP_SeedsofHopeMagazine-highres.pdf

Attached Images:

1. Litany of Saints during Solemn Profession, where the candidate is covered by a funeral pall, reminding him of his death (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NKVL8bQjq8ceukE6yNSYUVCyH_BunxRP/view?usp=sharing)

2. Commissioned Mosaic of St.John Vianney created by Br. Benedict Mariahttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1XQRo4-VgoJssim4LSTTpnd-7G0NIcubj/view?usp=sharing)